Board conducts workshop to improve city air quality
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Patiala, in collaboration with the district administration and Municipal Corporation, organised a workshop on March 28 at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The event’s theme was ‘A Step Towards Cleaner Air in Patiala City,’ highlighting measures to improve air quality in the city.
The objective of the event was to bring together key stakeholders including representatives from different government departments, industry associations, academic institutions, researchers and students to deliberate on sustainable solutions for improving air quality in Patiala.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr Gurbinder Singh, registrar, TIET, and member of the PPCB Board, followed by a welcome address from Er Gurkaran Singh, Environmental Engineer, who briefed the participants on the objectives of NCAP and shared insights from the source apportionment study of Patiala City.
The workshop featured a series of expert talks covering diverse aspects of air pollution such as its adverse health effects, sustainable industrial practices, increasing green cover and the adoption of innovative technologies to improve air quality.
Dr Vishal Chopra, professor and head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Government Medical College, Patiala, discussed the serious health implications of air pollution, while Dr Ashutosh Kumar, associate professor at TIET, explained sustainable strategies to reduce pollution.
Guramanpreet Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, Patiala, emphasised the significance of afforestation, advanced plantation technologies and strategies for controlling both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Harinder Lamba, president of the Focal Point Association, Patiala, highlighted the proactive role that industries must play in achieving a cleaner Patiala. In addition, Amandeep Singh and Shelly Tiwari, PhD scholars, shared innovative technological solutions for addressing air pollution and Paramjit Singh Aggarwal, a motivational speaker, shared his perspective on how collective human efforts are vital for air quality improvement.
A special presentation on ‘A Step Towards Cleaner Air in Patiala City’ was delivered by Muktesh Chaudhari, consultant, NCAP.
